Extensible trailer



Jan. 26, 1965 A. ECHLER ETAL EXTENSIBLE TRAILER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 20, 1962 INVENTORS: ALBERT .FDHLER. BY 17mm L". 5 TT.

ATT'Y.

Jan. 26, 1965 A. ECHLER ETAL EXTENSIBLE TRAILER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 20, 1962 ALBEET EBHLER. BY .Z7ANJBL L". 5.00M".

ATTY.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS:

.ATT 'YT ALBERT Emma. BY DANIEL E.

A. ECHLER 'ETAL EXTENSIBLE TRAILER HUN Jan. 26, 1965 Filed Aug. 20, 1962 tached to the mainframe.

United States Patent Office 3,167,198 Patented Jan. 26., 1965 3,167,198 EXTENSIBLE TRAILER Albert Echlcr, 703 S. Indian River Road, and Daniel C. Scott, 505 Beach Court, both of Fort Pierce, Fla.

Filed Aug. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 217,995

11 Claims. (U. 214-505) ture interposed between the trailer tow pole and the main frame to permit the latter to be extended substantially its full length outwardly of its retracted position.

. Another object of the present invention is to provide a trailer with pairs of longitudinal telescoping intermediate. frame members for connecting the tow pole to the main frame and having winch means associated therewith by which the main frame may be extended and retracted with respect to the intermediate frame.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of attachment means for converting a fixed frame type of trailer into an extensible frame type of trailer.

Another object of the invention is to provide laterally and longitudinally adjustable conversion frame structure to fit conventional trailers of various sizes and types including tilt bed trailers. Generally speaking, the present invention comprises intermediate frame structure in the form of tubular telescopic members extending longitudinally of the main frame or bed of a trailer, there being fixed or adjustable cross members for spacing the front ends of the outer of said telescopic members laterally and from which a tow pole extends.

The main frame is movably mounted on the outer telescopic members by means such as rollers at- Mounted transversely of the outer'tubula'r members adjacent the leading ends thereof is a winch on the drum of which are oppositely wound a pair of cables. One of the cables is attached directly to a jfront cross member of the main frame for moving theframe one direction, while the other cable is passed around a'pulley, mounted on a fixed spacer at the rear of the outer tubular members, and then attached to the front cross member for moving the frame in the other direction.

The above mentioned and other features and objects of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

' 'FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a boat trailer'incorporating the 'pr'esent invention and showing the main frame in the water or' in its extended position with respect to the tow pole and the near end of a'towing vehicle;

FIG; 2 is a view similar to FIGvl but showing the 'main frame in its retracted position for towing;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view inthe direction of arrows III- 111 ofFlG. 1, showing awinch structure for controlling theposition of the trailer main frame;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken in the direction of arrows IV-IV of FIG. 1 illustrating a combined pulley bracket and stop for limiting relative movement of the structure in one direction;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the trailershown in FIG. 1

with the retracted position of the main frame being shown in dotted lines;

FIG. 6 is a detail view on a line VIVI of FIG. illustrating a form of roller bracket forming a part of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of another embodiment of this invention showing a laterally adjustable sub-frame for installation with various trailer frames with the winch being broken away along its supporting brackets;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged elevational view illustrating a modified installation for the winch shown in FIG. 3 which is particularly adapted for the embodiment shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional detail view taken in the direction of the arrows IX-IX of FIG. 7 showing the adjustable width pulley bracket and stop;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken in the direction of arrows X-X of FIG. 7 showing the adjustable width cross members;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of another form of the invention for use with a tilt bed trailer;

FIG. 12 is a side elevation of the trailer shown in FIG. 1 l;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged detail view taken in the direction of arrows XIlIXIII of FIG. 11, showing a roller bracket assembly;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged detail view taken in the direction of arrows XIV-XIV of FIG. 11 showing a combined brace and pulley bracket; I

FIG. 15 is an enlarged detail View taken in the direction of arrows XV-XV of FIG. 11 showing a mounting bracket for the inner telescopic members; and

FIG. 16 is a sectional detail view taken on a line XVI- XVI of FIG. 15. g

Referring to the drawings, the invention has been illustrated as incorporated in a boat trailer and also as a sub-assembly for converting a conventional fixed bed trailer into an extendable bed trailer. With particular reference to FIGS. 1 through 5, a trailer, which may be a boat trailer, has been illustrated generally at 20. Trailer 2% includes a load carrying frame 22 having longitudinally extending frame members or side rails 24 connected by a rear transverse cross member 26 and a pair of spaced front transverse cross members 28. The frame members 24, 26 and 28, may be of any desired cross-section such as tubular, I-beam or wide U,-channel as shown. To frame 22 may be connected by springs 29, a transverse axle fall, on the ends of which are mounted wheels 32. When trailer is used for boats or the like, suitable cradle means shown somewhat diagramatically 'at 34, ma

be provided. for supporting a boat 35. u

Associaterdrwith the main frame 22, is a sub-frame indicated generally at 38 to the forward end of which is secured a draw bar or tow pole 40 provided with hitch means 42 for attachment to a towing vehicle 45. As particularly shown in FIG. 5, the sub-frame 38 is inclusive of spaced pairs of telescopic members 46, 47 and 48, 49. The outer members 46 and 48 are shown as being tubular, although they may be of other section, and spaced at their forward ends by transverse cross-bars 50 and 51 secured as by welding at spaced points longitudinally of members 46 and 48. Tow pole 40 is also secured to bars 50 and 51 as by welding thereto intermediate their ends to project forwardly therefrom centrally of frame 38.

The front cross members'28 of the trailer main frame 22 are provided with spacedroller assemblies 54 and 55 (see FIG. 6), the opposed rollers 56 of which engage the outer tube members 46 and 48. Each assembly 54 and 55 includes a bracket member 57 the opposed flanges 58 of which journally support the rollers 56. When secured to members 28 assemblies 54 and 55 support frame 22 for sliding movement on members 46 and 48.

Adjacent..the...rear. ends,,of. clamp member'59 (see FIG. 4) which may include up pet and lower strap-like members 60, .61 having arcuate e d fi m racin -th w lms b a da miss held by bolt'and nut assemblies 65. Mountedbetween n centrally memb rs :60 nd; szatr b a the members A6. and. 4.8..is .a,,\

- 7 41'.- sions .152 and 153 which extend transversely inwardly for connection to cross .bars 150 and 151 secured to the inner end 141 of tow pole 140. Parallel series of spaced holes160 and 161 are provided adjacent the inner ends of extensions 152 and 153 "as :shown in FIG. l0, and

similarly arrangedholes @1 63 and 164 (or slots 163 and 164 as fshownin bar 150 in FIG. 8) may be provided To the rear cross member 26 maybe weldedor other-y wise secured the rearends ofinner membe'rs4'7 and '49 in' suitably 'sp a'ced relationto be telescopically received with ou r t b 'u mb rs 4'6 n 8- 1- n .m =m ,r'47' n 49 may also. be tubulariand servcwto guide and supportadjacent each .end of cross ba'rs'150 and'151 for registry with holes 1 6 and 161. Bolt and nut'assemblies or other fasteners 165 are received'in the holes toretain the bars 150,151 and :152,.153- in adjustedpositionand the tubular members 1413 and 148 in 'parallelisrnr Telescopically main frame 22 during travel -.to and from textende'd, posi- 7 tionas later described. r Rejec n up ard y i maea h u tube em e 46 and 48 adjacent the rearmost of its forward pair-ofcross .7

bars -51is.a bracket 70 on which'a winch 7-2 is. mounted.

Winch' 72 (seeFIG SJ) isinclusive-ofadrum '73 -rnou'nted I on a shaft 74 carried by bracket "Z0, Onevend of shaft 74 carries;a gear 577 inymeshwith a secondgear 78} When manually operated, .-;gear .78 may "be; rotated by a crank as by welding, the member 168.comprising a .pair o'f over- 79 on which the gear 78 is mounted. -A dogor pawl-76 pivoted'to braeket 70mayengage one of'thegearsto lock rotation of the drum 7-3 and'zcorrespondingly:the :position of the main;frame 22nelative to;the stonguegt). j A power winch may be substituted for ahand winch as wil1 ,beQ

lapping-sections .169 and 17 0 each provided'with spaced aperturesglf'll .sele'ctively .alignable. to receive fasteners .gs uch as bolt and nut assemblies 175. I Pulley bracket-176 f wise secured to member 168.,

understood. Qppositelyr wound on fdrum, .73are 'a-."pair 10f cables.qor ropes 80 rand't8llwhich p'as's faround 'pulleys. i

83 and 84. The pulleys 83 and 84 are;r ot atably mounted and-axiallyimoyableaon "a shaft, 86 fixed to outer tube Emeinbersz-rtfi-Yand .48 and to, one sideof brackets 70. Pulleys'83v and 84'may be adjustably spacedron 'shaft:86 bIy means such as spaced .c'ollars 387; which ispacing may be,

Narieduin accordance with Zth'e length of travelofcables 80 and 81}. 'Cable 80.;passcs" from pulley f83 directly to Ihtefifriontiframe memberfiii while'zcable 8'1 'passesffrom its guide pulley'84 to pulley 68 on clamp member 59 on, v thetmovable intermediate'frame.38 and then to' frame member 28. :By .is'uch arrangement, -rotation of drum .73 .inione direction,.as clockwise when'vi'ewed from;the -gear 77 end thereof, winds'cable 80 onto. drum 78 .to mov'e frame 22T rearwardlly -or'i-to extended position on subframe 38, while rotationaofidrumfljfwin the oppositeidirection .winds cable 81 ion drum"731to move framel22 forwardlyon sub-frame 3'8 ortoretracted position.- ;When

.other cable is unwound'to thus keep the -cablestaut and to positively :and immediately iinitiate'the the frame 22 .inteither direction Aspreviously indicated, the above structure ;can bein- .corporated 'asia'complete trailer, :or the'subi-frame fls may ;be substituted .fOI' the tongue or tow =pole'of a iconv'enmovement of i i winch 230, al-s o mountedon thetongue 22.4,;and having urnallyusupports a pulley- 177 and is bolted or ,other- 7. A winchgl7'2 may be mou tedadjacent ithefforward end of sub-frame'BBeither on aseparatecross-member onmay have its bracket-s 1 7.0 fixedto the members 150 'and/0r j15 1. asjshowninFIGS. '6"and.7. Drum 173 has cables -18Q'and l8l wound thereon andoperable to extend and 'retractthe main frame in the same manner ,as described in connection with FIGS," '1 throughS above;

Referring now to the -form, of the invention shown in FIGS. 11 through ,16, sub-framegstructure 200 is provide'dfor trailers of the .tiltable bed or main frame :type. .The trailer bed :or frame 220 may beinclusive of an in termediate cross-member 222'to which a tongue 224 "is pivotally connected as at 225,4sothat-the rear of bed220 may tilt downwardly with respect to ltongue.q224,@the front 'endof which tongue 224.is(ordinarilyzprovided with arhitch =(not shown) for attachment to. a towing which. I Such arrangement,facilitatestheloadingand unloading of. a boat, for ;.example,'from or into the water by providing aramp-likdstructure, as jshownin dotted linesin FIG. 12.: The bed 220 ma-yrbe isecur'ednin -its horizontal. or

transportposition-by a'llock or-latch means 227 between the front frame-member 228 .andthe .tongue 224. A

s'aglca'ble :232 associated therewith may be. used either {for pnlling a -boat 35gonto the =tilted-frame bed 220 of the tional trailerxsby modifying the main" frame to accom modate the sub-frame structure. qlnio'rd'er to provide a f structure still .more readily adaptable :toffyarious makes. and 'sizesof trailers,-the'modified arrangem'ent shown in .FIGS. 7-.through may be utiliZed.=-' I With particular reference tof the modification sho-wn' in .FIG. 7, details of whichare' illustrated in FIGS. 8;

9 and .10, the sub fr'am'e 13s is' adjustablei so thatk it .may be installed in tr'ailers hav'ing mainframes of various sizes-or those having structure-that would interfere-with the previously described arrangement. As ishown i'n .ing suitable cross memb'ers 126and 128 may-have roller,

secured adjacent :the outer ends of front cross members broken.*lines, a main 'fr-amei122 ofconventionalltype hav- 1 128; Theroller assemblies54 and '55' each'have' o'pposed 5 side plates '58ibetween' which rollers 56 arejournalled and may be spaced at other. "convenient 'poi'nts on members 128 to receive longitudinally extending outer tubular.

members 146 and 148 onwhjch -the framel22 is slidably supported.

Fixed, adjacent 'th'e forward ends; of tubular members V .14 6- ,andh 14.8.gare:longitudinally .spaoed.fcross bar "extentrailerbyexteriding over the roller..-233 as shown indotzted lines in BIG; 1 2 or under the roller 234 shown 'inflfulllines and attached tothe frame member 22 8 for' retjracting bed=220 from its tilted position.

To jfunther enhancefrthe utility of -this type ofatrailer,

' sub-frame. 200' is incorporated therewith :to permit :ex-

tension and'retraction of the bed 22-0 withrrespect tot-a towing tve hicle, Ihe sub-frame 200 is inclusive. of laterally spaced pairs of telescopingf;outer and-inner members- 2 351 and: 236,;the .forward ends of the outer mem- .bers 235 being connected bya transverse member or bar 2318 from which a 'shorttow'pole?240 extendsfor mounting trailer, vehicle hitch member 242. f Adjacent cross 'gbar 2 3 8is'rnounte'd Ya w'inch 243 supported'by frame struc- -ture 244j-betweenjthe' side members of which is 'journalled a 245,.jonjwhichicables may be wound as preyiously. described for 'ythe winches shown iii-FIG; 3 or v.8.

The rearward endsz'of inner membersi236are counectedby a transverse plate' 247 (see-FIGIIS), the plate 247. in turn beingconnected to the tongue'2'24 adjacent bedtilting-pivot 2 2'5; *Centrally' of;plate;247 'is a bracket i249 aperturedtoreceive a pair ofjU-bolts 250 for rigidly attaching platez47 to tongue 224asin FIGs. 15 and -16.

ESpa'eedrfrom @late 2411a a-pulle'y {bracket 252 centrally of which is mounted a pulley 253 (similar to pulleys 68 pair of longitudinally spaced roller bracket assemblies 260 and 261, one at each side of the boat or tilt winch I 230. One of these bracket assemblies is shown in FIG.

13 and comprises a transverse plate 263, centrally of which is an attaching plate 265 apertured to receive a pair of U-bolts 266 for clamping plate 263 to the tongue 224. Depending from the extremities of plate 263 are a pair of spaced arms 268 in which are journalled upper and lower rollers 2'70 and 271, respectively, between which are disposed the outer sub-frame members 235. Roller brackets 260 and 261 are rigid with tongue 224 and thus longitudinally fixed relative to bed 220, the rollers 27d and 271 serving to permit the bed to be freely extended and retracted with respect to the tow pole 240 and thus the towing vehicle :in response to operation of winch 243. It will be noted that lower rollers 271 (see FIG. 12) may be a pair of such rolls to further support the trailer bed 220 during its movement along the outer members 235. Such a roller-pair arrangement 1 may also be incorporated in the previously described forms of the invention.

frame to extend or retract the main frame with respect to such towing vehicle to facilitate loading and/or unloading and transporting the trailer, such movement of the main frame in both directions being controlled by a single actuator, namely, a winch.

While there is described above the principles of this invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A longitudinally extensible trailer comprising:

(a) a main frame,

(b) wheels connected to said main frame,

(0) a tow pole,

(d) a sub-frame underlying said main frame including,

( 1) a pair of longitudinally extending members,

(2) means for connecting said members to said tow pole,

(3) roller means depending from said main frame and engaging said longitudinal members on which said main frame is movably supported with respect to said longitudinal members, and

(e) winch means between said tow pole and the front end of said main frame for moving said main frame along said longitudinal members in both directions to extend or retract said trailer.

2. A trailer for boats and the like comprising:

(a) a load carrying frame,

(b) supporting wheels attached to said frame,

(c) a tow pole,

(a!) means for attaching said tow pole to a towing vehicle,

(e) a first pair of tubular members secured to said tow pole and extending longitudinally below said frame,

(f) means to space said first tubular members laterally of said frame,

(g) roller means depending from said frame for movably mounting said frame on said first pair of tubular members,

(it) a second pair of tubular members telescoped with- Cir in said first tubular pair of members and secured to said frame for guiding its movement, and

(i) winch means between said tow pole and said frame for extending and retracting said frame with respect to said first tubular members.

3. A trailer according to claim 2 in which the means for movably mounting the frame includes spaced sets of rollers movable along said firs-t tubular members.

4. An extensible trailer comprising,

(a) a main frame,

(Z2) a draw bar, and

(c) an intermediate frame, comprising:

(1) two pair of parallel telescoping rail members, one pair being attached at their rearward ends to said main frame, and the other pair being attached at their forward ends to said draw bar,

(2) pairs of spaced rollers connected to said main frame near the forward ends of said one pair of rail members for guiding said other pair of rail members in their telescoping movement over said one pair of rail members,

(3) winch means attached near the forward ends of said other pair of rail members, and

(4) cable means wound on said winch means for moving said draw bar and said other pair of rail members longitudinally with respect to said main frame and said one pair of rail members, said cable means comprising:

one reach of cable attached directly between said winch means and said main frame near the forward ends of said one pair of rail members, a pulley attached near the rear ends of said other pair of rail members, and another reach of cable attached to said winch means and extending around said pulley and back to said main frame near the attachment of said one reach of cable, whereby operation of said winch means positively moves said main frame relative to said draw bar in both directions.

5. A trailer according to claim 4 wherein said frame includes supporting wheels and a tiltable deck.

6. A trailer according to claim 5 wherein said main frame also includes a winch means for operating said tiltable deck.

7. A trailer according to claim 4 wherein said intermediate frame is mounted below said main frame.

8. A trailer according to claim 4 wherein said pairs of parallel telescoping rail members comprise pairs of,

telescoping tubular members.

9. A trailer according to claim 4 wherein said pairs of telescoping rail members include cross bars for maintaining the space between said members.

10. A trailer according to claim 9 wherein said cross bars include means for adjusting the spacing between said parallel rail members.

11. A trailer according to claim 4 wherein said pairs of spaced rollers are attached directly to said main frame.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,021,952 11/35 Wren 214-517 2,512,798 6/50 Hodges 214-517 2,790,673 4/57 Zur Nieden 28034 X 2,797,008 6/57 Banker 2l4505 2,856,087 10/53 Steber 2l4505 X 2,938,642 5/60 Felix 214505 2,944,835 7/60 Englehardt et al. 214505 HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Examiner. 

1. A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENSIBLE TRAILER COMPRISING: (A) A MAIN FRAME, (B) WHEELS CONNECTED TO SAID MAIN FRAME, (C) A TOW POLE, (D) A SUB-FRAME UNDERLYING SAID MAIN FRAME INCLUDING, (1) A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALY EXTENDING MEMBERS, (2) MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID MEMBERS TO SAID TOW POLE, (3) ROLLER MEANS DEPENDING FROM SAID MAIN FRAME AND ENGAGING SAID LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS ON WHICH SAID MAIN FRAME IS MOVABLY SUPPORTED WITH RESPECT TO SAID LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS, AND (E) WINCH MEANS BETWEEN SAID TOW POLE AND THE FRONT END OF SAID MAIN FRAME FOR MOVING SAID MAIN FRAME ALONG SAID LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS TO EXTEND OR RETRACT SAID TRAILER. 